The Arbitration Act 2025 received Royal Assent on Monday 24th February

The Arbitration Act 2025 received Royal Assent on Monday 24th February

The new act sits up on the well established legislation of the Arbitration Act 1996 but will strengthen several areas including:

• Clarifying the law that underpins individual Arbitration agreements
• Provide Arbitrators with the power to speed up decisions on some issues
• Codifying the duty on Arbitrators to disclose any circumstances that could cast reasonable doubt on their impartiality – setting out duty of disclosure laid down in Haliburton v Chubb on a statutory basis
• Provide courts with the power to support Arbitration through orders including the action of emergency arbitrators to enhance their effectiveness
• Extend Arbitrator immunity against liability for resignations and the costs of the application to court for their removal
• Simplifying court procedures related to arbitration

The new law is to be introduced through regulations as soon as practicable.

Real estate practitioners generally regard the Arbitration Act 1996 as a well drafted piece of legislation that has created a workable framework in dispute resolution with natural justice at its core. It is hoped that the new Act strengthens these well established principles.

The Glenny Lease Advisory team will be monitoring how the 2025 Act impacts rent review disputes and lease renewal (PACT) and remain ready to guide clients through the dispute resolution process when necessary. For further information please contact William Martin, Same Coker, Morgan Hay or Hector Mendoza or call them on 020 3141 3500